Passing large amounts of data between classes/functions

[Macca]

Hi,

I'm writing an application that will pass a large amount of data between
classes/functions.

In C++ it was more efficient to send a pointer to the object, e.g structure
rather than passing the actual structure itself.

Is this true of C# also?

What is the best way to pass a large amount of data with different data types?

e.g object could contain some strings, doubles, bytes etc.

Regards
Macca

[Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]]

Macca,

I would return a reference to a DataSet, which has the appropriate
information (if it is something where the structure is fluid), or create an
instance of a class which has the specific information, which you can then
return a reference to (instances of classes, not structures are reference
types, and you pass around the reference).

Hope this helps.
--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- mv*@spam.guard. caspershouse.co m
"Macca" <Ma***@discussi ons.microsoft.c om> wrote in message
news:54******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...

Hi,

I'm writing an application that will pass a large amount of data between
classes/functions.

In C++ it was more efficient to send a pointer to the object, e.g
structure
rather than passing the actual structure itself.

Is this true of C# also?

What is the best way to pass a large amount of data with different data
types?

e.g object could contain some strings, doubles, bytes etc.

Regards
Macca

[Jon Skeet [C# MVP]]

Macca wrote:

I'm writing an application that will pass a large amount of data between
classes/functions.

In C++ it was more efficient to send a pointer to the object, e.g structure
rather than passing the actual structure itself.

Is this true of C# also?

What is the best way to pass a large amount of data with different data types?

e.g object could contain some strings, doubles, bytes etc.

Unless you're dealing with large value types (structs) you don't need
to worry about this. See
http://www.pobox.com/~skeet/csharp/parameters.html

Jon

[john doe]

It might be worth pointing out instances are sent by reference in C#
e.g.

private void foo(MyObject obj)
{

}

'obj' is a reference. The exception to this rule is value types
(structs) which includes the String class.

[D. Yates]

Just to be clear... strings are reference types ... it sounds like your
calling them value types.
"john doe" <sl********@gma il.com> wrote in message
news:11******** **************@ o13g2000cwo.goo glegroups.com.. .

It might be worth pointing out instances are sent by reference in C#
e.g.

private void foo(MyObject obj)
{

}

'obj' is a reference. The exception to this rule is value types
(structs) which includes the String class.

[Macca]

Hi John,

Intersting article. So if I want to pass around a data structure that
contains different types it is best to use a reference object such as a
class? rather than a value type such as a structure?

I am thinking from a performance view.

My app will have 6-7 modules (classes) and will be passing the above data
structure between them.

Regards
Macca

"Jon Skeet [C# MVP]" wrote:

Macca wrote:

I'm writing an application that will pass a large amount of data between
classes/functions.

In C++ it was more efficient to send a pointer to the object, e.g structure
rather than passing the actual structure itself.

Is this true of C# also?

What is the best way to pass a large amount of data with different data types?

e.g object could contain some strings, doubles, bytes etc.

Unless you're dealing with large value types (structs) you don't need
to worry about this. See
http://www.pobox.com/~skeet/csharp/parameters.html

Jon

[Macca]

Hi Nicholas,

Thanks for the advice.

Just to let you know my application will consist of 6-7 modules(classes ) and
this data structure(consi sting of various data types) will be used to pass
data between them. Is it best to use a class for the data structure rather
than any other data type?

Regards
Macca

"Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]" wrote:

Macca,

I would return a reference to a DataSet, which has the appropriate
information (if it is something where the structure is fluid), or create an
instance of a class which has the specific information, which you can then
return a reference to (instances of classes, not structures are reference
types, and you pass around the reference).

Hope this helps.
--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- mv*@spam.guard. caspershouse.co m
"Macca" <Ma***@discussi ons.microsoft.c om> wrote in message
news:54******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...

Hi,

I'm writing an application that will pass a large amount of data between
classes/functions.

In C++ it was more efficient to send a pointer to the object, e.g
structure
rather than passing the actual structure itself.

Is this true of C# also?

What is the best way to pass a large amount of data with different data
types?

e.g object could contain some strings, doubles, bytes etc.

Regards
Macca

[Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]]

Macca,

If the data structure is large, and you have to pass it around often,
then yes, a class is better, since you will be copying the data on each pass
of the data from one method to the next. If the structure is large, you
will see some performance impact.
--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- mv*@spam.guard. caspershouse.co m

"Macca" <Ma***@discussi ons.microsoft.c om> wrote in message
news:ED******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...

Hi Nicholas,

Thanks for the advice.

Just to let you know my application will consist of 6-7 modules(classes )
and
this data structure(consi sting of various data types) will be used to pass
data between them. Is it best to use a class for the data structure rather
than any other data type?

Regards
Macca

"Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]" wrote:

Macca,

I would return a reference to a DataSet, which has the appropriate
information (if it is something where the structure is fluid), or create
an
instance of a class which has the specific information, which you can
then
return a reference to (instances of classes, not structures are reference
types, and you pass around the reference).

Hope this helps.
--
- Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
- mv*@spam.guard. caspershouse.co m
"Macca" <Ma***@discussi ons.microsoft.c om> wrote in message
news:54******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...

> Hi,
>
> I'm writing an application that will pass a large amount of data
> between
> classes/functions.
>
> In C++ it was more efficient to send a pointer to the object, e.g
> structure
> rather than passing the actual structure itself.
>
> Is this true of C# also?
>
> What is the best way to pass a large amount of data with different data
> types?
>
> e.g object could contain some strings, doubles, bytes etc.
>
> Regards
> Macca
>

[Jon Skeet [C# MVP]]

Macca wrote:

Intersting article. So if I want to pass around a data structure that
contains different types it is best to use a reference object such as a
class? rather than a value type such as a structure?

I am thinking from a performance view.

My app will have 6-7 modules (classes) and will be passing the above data
structure between them.

I very, very rarely write my own value types. Performance is usually
less important than getting the right semantics, to be honest - and
reference semantics *tend* to be preferable to value semantics IMO. Of
course, just because they're reference types doesn't mean they have to
be mutable... often an immutable reference type (such as string) gives
the best performance *and* semantics.

Jon

[Chris S.]

In reference to the above about strings, they behave like value types.
I don't know the internal workings well enough to say whether a
reference is passed or not, however use them like value types is the
easiest solution. e.g.:

private void button1_Click(o bject sender, System.EventArg s e)
{
string s = "moo";
this.foo(s);
MessageBox.Show (s);
}

private void foo(string s)
{
s = "hello";
}

Displays a message box with "Moo", not "hello".